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F or small businesses, the very idea of tapping into international markets may seem out of reach, like trying to hit a big-league pitch blindfolded.

But a major regional trade conference next month in Pensacola hopes to help energize and equip small and medium-sized business to take their message across the globe to billions of prospective customers.

The 14th annual Gulf Coast Trade Alliance World Trade Conference is set for Thursday and Friday at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. This year’s theme is “Gateway Gulf Coast: Leveraging Infrastructure to Boost International Commerce.”

Some of the nation’s experts in international trade will join business people from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to network and share expertise and ideas to encourage even mom-and-pop businesses to think globally.

But while traditional infrastructure is defined as brick-and-mortar assets — ports, airports, water accessibility and the like — human capital also is part of the equation, said Andrea Moore, manager of international trade for Enterprise Florida.

“You could argue that talent is part of infrastructure as well,” Moore said. “It’s a little more mobile than the other (aspects of infrastructure) in a lot of regards, but it is important to provide a nutritious or beneficial environment for companies, whether they are companies engaged in trade or companies from outside the region who are considering a location decision. This is a great platform to showcase those assets.”

And, like Florida, other Gulf Coast states have a large military demographic in their talent pool, which means prospects who think globally.

“From the state of Louisiana to Florida, we have a large contingency of military folks that add to the demographic mix of our very qualified workforce,” said Danita Andrews, director of business development for the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. “When we talk about the assets of the area, we really are talking about the Gulf States region as a whole — the ability for our states to come together to form this alliance, to encourage international business development and trade.”

According to the conference’s website, the two-day event will examine trade trends, market development and international business opportunities. Networking also will be a pivotal part of the conference, bringing together business owners from the Gulf states with trade practitioners, international business professionals and federal and state resources.

Even small businesses with a handful of employees can become players on the international stage, Moore said. Eighty percent of businesses in Florida have less than 20 employees.

“(Small businesses) too — although when they think exporting, they think Boeing, they think GE, they think big companies — can advance their footprint and can increase their revenue and their profit by selling to a market in addition to the U.S., outside U.S. borders.”

Four Pensacola-area companies who do business internationally will be part of one of many panel discussions at the conference. Andrews has high hopes for the event. This marks the third time Pensacola has hosted it.

Also among the featured panelists at the conference will be James Anzalone, president of Compliance Assurance and a leading expert on global trade compliance.

“I keenly hope that folks walk away energized and that we’ve generated some awareness — some ‘aha moments’— that was outside their scope,” Andrews said. “That they understand that the Gulf states region has tremendous opportunities, either working together forming coalitions, business-to-business working together to do trade internationally, but also that they’re just energized about the opportunities for the Gulf Coast states.”

Moore hopes the conference will bring a renewed sense of empowerment for business owners, giving a sense that the international marketplace is in reach, even for the shop around the corner on Main Street.

“We’re really excited to bring the rather abstract concept of exporting to the local level,” Moore said. “For local businesses (international trade) seems to be at the 30,000-foot level that you don’t even dare drill down on ‘What does that mean for me? How can I get a piece of that pie?’ We really think having everybody from high-level policymakers in Washington, D.C., to your business across the street and having everyone share in the conversation will be energizing.”